Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)]

On Sat  8 Jan 2000 , navillusbpi AT primus.com.au wrote:
> Please pardon my limited under standing of Hebrew but I truly do want a
> clearer understanding of the Hebrew text especially in view of the 
> conflicting Hebrew translations on this phrase.

 Dear Brian,

 This is a Frequently Asked Question, as it happens. The Hebrew of v 21 is
 ambiguous. 'a:XiY YaPeT HaGGaDoWL can be taken either way; see the NIV text
 and margin.

 It is clear that Ham is the youngest son of Noah (Genesis 9:24). The other
 two, Shem and Japheth, are named in that order: Shem first. When the three
 sons are named together, it is in the order Shem, Ham, Japheth (Genesis
 5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:18; etc.).

 It has been suggested (but I cannot track down the reference) that Ham was
 the *second* son, but that because of the incident recorded in Genesis
 9:22 he was demoted to B:NoW HaQQa+aN, i.e. smallest or least significant.
 Then in Genesis 9:27 it says YaP:T: 'e:LoHiYM L:YePeT,  God shall *enlarge*
 Japheth (root P-T-H, in the Hiphil to make spacious, to open out, widen).
 So Japheth who was the youngest (smallest) was "widened" or promoted above
 Ham. It's a lovely pun on the name of Japheth YaP:T: 'e:LoHiYM L:YePeT of
 course.                                       ^^^^^^             ^^^^^

 So I would recommend translating Genesis 10:21 "To Shem also, even he [who
 was] the ancestor of all the children of Eber [and] the elder brother of
 Japheth, were children born". Compare the Greek LXX:

 KAI TWi SHM EGENNHQH KAI AUTWi PATRI PANTWN TWH hUIWN EBER, ADELFWi IAFEQ
 TOU MEIZONOS.  (Brenton)

 Shalom
 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
 <ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
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